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Azm-e-Nou, Rethinking Pakistan’s Defense Doctrine
In 1989 Pakistan Army conducted the largest exercise of its history. The need for Zerb e Momin was felt due to threats emerging from India and response to Sunjerji Doctrine which brought Pakistan India near to war in 1986-87. This exercise not only validated Pakistan Army’s new Doctrine but also gave a clear signal to India that any Indian aggression will be dealt with swift and brutal response.
General Krishna Swami Sunderji can rightly be called as one of the best minds Indian army ever had. He belonged to Mahar regiment of Indian army. In addition to his military skills he was also known for his intellect. Sunderji realized the importance of RMA (Revolution in Military Affairs) and impact of it on modern day battlefield. Sunderji was provided with opportunity to study RMA and to be part of a small team for reorganizing the Indian army, especially with regard to technology by Gen. KV Krishna Rao. Sunderji was very impressed by German Blitzkrieg doctrine. He loved mechanized and armor movements and maneuvers due to their speed and ferocity. Basing on this he gave Indian army its new doctrine also known as Sunderji’s doctrine.
Sunderji doctrine called for a set of Holding Corps situated close to the borders to hold off against an advancing enemy and a set of strike corps that would mobilize to deliver massive conventional retaliation. Which according to him would lead to the complete neutralization of the enemy?
In November 1986 Indian Army launched its biggest exercises in Rajasthan Desert very close to Pakistani border. At one point Indian troops deployed along Pakistani border reached 4 hundred thousand. This level of Armor and Mechanized Forces near Pakistani border made Pakistan Alert. The statement coming out from India enforced Pakistan’s threat perceptions and in response Pakistan was forced to mobilize its forces. It was expected that India was planning to cut Pakistani into two cutting Sind from Punjab. To counter this Indian move Pakistani Forces were deployed and concentrated along Punjab border and Working boundary where traditionally India is weak (At present India has Raised a New Army command to defend its vulnerabilities at Chicken Neck/ Working Boundary Area). It was soon realized by Adventurous Sunderji that his moves were effectively checked mated by Pakistanis and there was a huge chance that his adventure will change into nuclear exchange (Pakistan Cold tested its Nuclear device in 1984 and got capability to deliver it in next 2 years). International Community especially US, who was engaged in Afghan Jihad against soviets Pressurized India and At Last Tensions defused.
After the de-escalations need for new Pakistani counter doctrine was realized. New concepts to counter Indian Army were developed and were tested in Pakistan’s biggest military exercise in its short history code named Zerb- e- Momin. Almost three corps, two armored brigades, artillery divisions, air defense division and the Pakistan Air Force took part in this exercise. 14 new concepts were tested; many vital lessons were learnt.
It was during the exercise Zarb-e-Momin-89 that the Air-Land warfare concept was tried out for the first time on a very large scale. Plans were integrated at both the headquarters and field formations level. The Northern Air Command (NAC) and corresponding Corps (8B and 18B) interacted in order to understand each other’s requirements at the strategic and tactical levels before finalizing the air support plans.
After the conclusion of Zerb e Momin Pakistan army and Air force came out as more confident and integrated forces.
In 1990 a New Intifada begun in Kashmir and this time it was more bloody and intense then any intifada of the past. Pakistan and India once again came near to war but this time again deterrence and Pakistan Army preparedness played its part and tensions defused.
India blame Pakistan for its troubles in Indian Occupied Kashmir which is funny in a way that if Kashmiri Population is happy with conduct of Indian state then how come it is giving the Insurgents freedom and support to fight Indian state forces. In fact Indian Union from the beginning discriminated with Muslim majority Kashmiris that resulted in not one but many Intifadas for independence from Indian rule. Every student of history knows that troubles in Kashmir are result of Indian acts in occupied Valley. Shopian Murder case is just a very small example to understand why Kashmiri hate India and why India has to put more than seven hundred thousand troops in a small valley (Remember Pakistan army is near 6 hundred thousands).
In 1998 India detonated 5 nuclear devices and immediately tone from Delhi visibly changed. Indian Politicians and Military commanders started giving open threats to teach Pakistan a lesson. LoC in Kashmir became hot due to Indian bombardments and un-provoked firing. The tone of Indians gave impression that if Pakistan does not reply in same tone India will attack (See the Indian News Papers of 1998).
Pakistan conducted its nuclear tests in response to those of Indians in May 1998 and became overt Nuclear Power. Pakistani Scientists worked day and night and brought credibility to Pakistan’s deterrence by building Ghauri, Shaheen, and Tipu missiles. Pakistan soon reached 2nd strike capability hall mark when Pakistani Navel chief Nouman Bashir revealed that Pakistan has developed SLM which are capable to take nuclear war heads.
In 1999 reports in Indian media started coming about Pakistani offensives in Northern Kashmir when there were no such hostilities. Pakistani military Leadership perceived it as softening of Public opinion and start of battle procedure by Indian army for aggression against Pakistan in Kashmir. A year back in 1998 Indians had loudly boasted their Intensions and there was enough evidence, which enforced Pakistani Threat Perception about Indian intensions in Kashmir.
To preempt any Indian aggression an old plan chalked out in early 80’s to counter Indian aggression in Siachen was given life. Some of the elite forces and those of Northern Light Infantry were infiltrated across LoC at Kargil and Drass Sector, which in winter Indian army leave due to extreme cold.
In summer when Indians came back to re occupy they were well come by Pakistani troops waiting for their hunt (Kargil was Part of Pakistani Azad Kashmir prior to 1965 war, it was only Sector in Kashmir where Indians made gains in 1965 war). Kargil Operation was a complete Strategic Surprise for India. Pakistani Forces were controlling Srinagar – Leh Road with direct fire making Leh corps very vulnerable. If Pakistani Political leadership had shown some strength whole Corps could have thrown weapons and would have become POW.
After the initial surprise India launched massive propaganda offensive along with Military offensive (on Kargil Drass Sectors). It used state of the art weaponry to get back the positions taken by hand full Pakistani troops but when its might failed India started threatening all out war. The world, which was under shock due to overt nuclearization, became scared of the possibility of nuclear war in South Asia (Pakistan did in 1999 what Indians did in early 80’s in Siachen but world failed to Take notice).
Under International Pressure Pakistani Political leadership gave in and unilaterally ordered its troops to with draw. During whole operation Pakistani losses were very low but during Unilateral cease fire Indians inflicted maximum damage.
Kargil was success or a failure it depends on which side you stand. I believe it was success as it revealed the vulnerabilities of India forces and level of professionalism. It was a strategic surprise. At strategic level it was failure of both Indian intelligence and military.
At Tactical level, as Pakistani troops were on heights and in defensive positions they were able to inflict heavy casualties to attacking Indians hence demoralizing Indian army allready demoralized due to Freedom movement in Kashmir.. In Kargal Operation Pakistani Forces Secured all Policy objectives namely
1. Internationalizing Kashmir Issue
2. Preempting Indian Agression across LoC
Kargil war demoralized Indian Army .The proof can be seen in Operation Porakaram where Indian forces failed in every field and 1800 Indian soldier died in maneuvers without firing a single shot.
General Krishna Swami Sunderji can rightly be called as one of the best minds Indian army ever had. He belonged to Mahar regiment of Indian army. In addition to his military skills he was also known for his intellect. Sunderji realized the importance of RMA (Revolution in Military Affairs) and impact of it on modern day battlefield. Sunderji was provided with opportunity to study RMA and to be part of a small team for reorganizing the Indian army, especially with regard to technology by Gen. KV Krishna Rao. Sunderji was very impressed by German Blitzkrieg doctrine. He loved mechanized and armor movements and maneuvers due to their speed and ferocity. Basing on this he gave Indian army its new doctrine also known as Sunderji’s doctrine. Narrating the sequence of events regarding fire in the Sikh Reference Library and Museum in the precincts of the Golden Temple during Operation Bluestar in June 1984, the then GOC of Amritsar, Major-Gen J. S. Jamwal said since the initial attack had not brought any success and the Army suffered heavy casualties, the Army decided to use heavy artillery to break the walls (of the library).
In this firing, the artillery shell pierced the walls near the library to create a hole which led to fire in the library and some of the precious manuscripts were burnt. He said it was totally unintentional as the Army was not aware of the library at the entrance of the complex. He, however, said the Army had clear instructions not fire any bullet on the Golden Temple.
He said the Army under his charge retrieved some of the books and manuscripts which were given to the SGPC authorities after the Temple complex was handed over to the management.
On the Army’s failure to save its troops during the initial attack on the Temple he said this was due to the lack of planning by the then Army commander, Western Command, Gen K. Sundarji who was known for his flamboyance, but lacked military mind to execute a properly planned operation. He said General Sundarji had botched up a number of operations under his charge and had brought disastrous results. He also cited the example of an Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) operation in Sri Lanka which resulted in a bloody nose to the Indian Army.
He said General Sundarji had literally brought India to the brink of war with Pakistan during Brasstrack exercises on the western front. Another example, General Jamwal said, was General Sundarji’s planning to overawe the Chinese on the northern frontier when he decided to take over certain Chinese posts. Later, he realised his folly and decided to pull back much to the embarrassment of the government.
General Jamwal said Indira Gandhi, then Prime Minister, used to get direct feedback from General Sundarji who was unable to provide her ground realities that left a permanent scar on the psyche of a particular community. He said General Sundarji had a good command of English, but lacked professional skills. It was unfortunate that General Sundarji died a miserable death.
Sunderji doctrine called for a set of Holding Corps situated close to the borders to hold off against an advancing enemy and a set of strike corps that would mobilize to deliver massive conventional retaliation. Which according to him would lead to the complete neutralization of the enemy?
In November 1986 Indian Army launched its biggest exercises in Rajasthan Desert very close to Pakistani border. At one point Indian troops deployed along Pakistani border reached 4 hundred thousand. This level of Armor and Mechanized Forces near Pakistani border made Pakistan Alert. The statement coming out from India enforced Pakistan’s threat perceptions and in response Pakistan was forced to mobilize its forces. It was expected that India was planning to cut Pakistani into two cutting Sind from Punjab. To counter this Indian move Pakistani Forces were deployed and concentrated along Punjab border and Working boundary where traditionally India is weak (At present India has Raised a New Army command to defend its vulnerabilities at Chicken Neck/ Working Boundary Area). It was soon realized by Adventurous Sunderji that his moves were effectively checked mated by Pakistanis and there was a huge chance that his adventure will change into nuclear exchange (Pakistan Cold tested its Nuclear device in 1984 and got capability to deliver it in next 2 years). International Community especially US, who was engaged in Afghan Jihad against soviets Pressurized India and At Last Tensions defused.
After the de-escalations need for new Pakistani counter doctrine was realized. New concepts to counter Indian Army were developed and were tested in Pakistan’s biggest military exercise in its short history code named Zerb- e- Momin. Almost three corps, two armored brigades, artillery divisions, air defense division and the Pakistan Air Force took part in this exercise. 14 new concepts were tested; many vital lessons were learnt.
It was during the exercise Zarb-e-Momin-89 that the Air-Land warfare concept was tried out for the first time on a very large scale. Plans were integrated at both the headquarters and field formations level. The Northern Air Command (NAC) and corresponding Corps (8B and 18B) interacted in order to understand each other’s requirements at the strategic and tactical levels before finalizing the air support plans.
After the conclusion of Zerb e Momin Pakistan army and Air force came out as more confident and integrated forces.
In 1990 a New Intifada begun in Kashmir and this time it was more bloody and intense then any intifada of the past. Pakistan and India once again came near to war but this time again deterrence and Pakistan Army preparedness played its part and tensions defused.
India blame Pakistan for its troubles in Indian Occupied Kashmir which is funny in a way that if Kashmiri Population is happy with conduct of Indian state then how come it is giving the Insurgents freedom and support to fight Indian state forces. In fact Indian Union from the beginning discriminated with Muslim majority Kashmiris that resulted in not one but many Intifadas for independence from Indian rule. Every student of history knows that troubles in Kashmir are result of Indian acts in occupied Valley. Shopian Murder case is just a very small example to understand why Kashmiri hate India and why India has to put more than seven hundred thousand troops in a small valley (Remember Pakistan army is near 6 hundred thousands).
In 1998 India detonated 5 nuclear devices and immediately tone from Delhi visibly changed. Indian Politicians and Military commanders started giving open threats to teach Pakistan a lesson. LoC in Kashmir became hot due to Indian bombardments and un-provoked firing. The tone of Indians gave impression that if Pakistan does not reply in same tone India will attack (See the Indian News Papers of 1998).
Pakistan conducted its nuclear tests in response to those of Indians in May 1998 and became overt Nuclear Power. Pakistani Scientists worked day and night and brought credibility to Pakistan’s deterrence by building Ghauri, Shaheen, and Tipu missiles. Pakistan soon reached 2nd strike capability hall mark when Pakistani Navel chief Nouman Bashir revealed that Pakistan has developed SLM which are capable to take nuclear war heads.
In 1999 reports in Indian media started coming about Pakistani offensives in Northern Kashmir when there were no such hostilities. Pakistani military Leadership perceived it as softening of Public opinion and start of battle procedure by Indian army for aggression against Pakistan in Kashmir. A year back in 1998 Indians had loudly boasted their Intensions and there was enough evidence, which enforced Pakistani Threat Perception about Indian intensions in Kashmir.
To preempt any Indian aggression an old plan chalked out in early 80’s to counter Indian aggression in Siachen was given life. Some of the elite forces and those of Northern Light Infantry were infiltrated across LoC at Kargil and Drass Sector, which in winter Indian army leave due to extreme cold.
In summer when Indians came back to re occupy they were well come by Pakistani troops waiting for their hunt (Kargil was Part of Pakistani Azad Kashmir prior to 1965 war, it was only Sector in Kashmir where Indians made gains in 1965 war). Kargil Operation was a complete Strategic Surprise for India. Pakistani Forces were controlling Srinagar – Leh Road with direct fire making Leh corps very vulnerable. If Pakistani Political leadership had shown some strength whole Corps could have thrown weapons and would have become POW.
After the initial surprise India launched massive propaganda offensive along with Military offensive (on Kargil Drass Sectors). It used state of the art weaponry to get back the positions taken by hand full Pakistani troops but when its might failed India started threatening all out war. The world, which was under shock due to overt nuclearization, became scared of the possibility of nuclear war in South Asia (Pakistan did in 1999 what Indians did in early 80’s in Siachen but world failed to Take notice).
Under International Pressure Pakistani Political leadership gave in and unilaterally ordered its troops to with draw. During whole operation Pakistani losses were very low but during Unilateral cease fire Indians inflicted maximum damage.
Kargil was success or a failure it depends on which side you stand. I believe it was success as it revealed the vulnerabilities of India forces and level of professionalism. It was a strategic surprise. At strategic level it was failure of both Indian intelligence and military.
Secondly in this exercise Pakistani forces displayed their capability to shoot down drones.
